The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-11

{ q
from a kettle that fitfully singing bis
fathers fire. Then he sat torpid, and pleased,
and bewildered; his misfortunes were then half
forgotten; his mind considering, not without
He was TINS engaged, when that busting
woman re-entered.
Have you eatenP said she. Then tell me
all about it."
1t was long end las the reader knowsl q
pitiful story; but Flora heard it with compressed
lips. She was lost in none of those question
ings Of human destiny that have, from time TO
time arrested the fight of my own pen; for
women, such she, no philosophers, and
behold the concrete only. And women, such as
She very hard on the imperfect man.
''Verv we'll" said she, when he had done;
"then down upon your knees at once. and beg
Gods forgiveness"
and did as he was bid; and none the worse for
that! Bat while he was heartily enough re-
duesting forgiveness on general principles, the
rational side of him distinguished. and wondered
it, perhaps the apology were not due upon the
other part And when he rose ae ain from that
becoming exercise, he first eyed the face or his
old love doubtfuily, and then, taking heart ut
tered his protest.
Il must say, Flora said he. 'in all this bust
ness can see very little fault of mine"
IF you had written nome" replied the lady,
There would have been none of it If you had
gone to Murrayfied reasonably sober, you
would never have slept there, and the worst
would not have happened Besides the whole
thing began years ago. You got into trouble,
aud when your father, honest man. was disap-
pointed. you took the pet, or got afraid, and ran
away from punishment. Well, you've had your
own way of it, Ohm and don't suppose you like it."
II sometimes fancy I'm not much better than
fool, sighed John.
My dear john said she. mot much"
He looked at her and his eye fell certain
anger within him; here was Flora he dis
owned she was hard; she was of a set color;
settled, mature, undecorative manner; plain OF
speech, plain of habit-he had come near say
ing plain Of face. And this changeling called
herself by the same name as the many colored.
clinging maid of yore; she OF the frequent
kind stolen glances. And to make all
worse she took the upper hand with him,
which las John we'll knew was not the
true relation of the sexes. be steeied MS heart
against this sick-nurse
And how do you come here2' he asked
She told him how she had nursed her father in
his long illness, and when he died, and sne was
left alone had taken to nurse others, partly from
habit partly 10 be OF some service in the world;
partly, it might be, for amusement. There's
no accounting for TASTE" said she. And she told
him how she went largely TO the houses of old
friends, the need arose; and how she was thus
doubly welcome. an old friend first, aud then
experienced nurse, to whom doctors would
confde the gravest cases.
''And, indeed it's mere farce my being here
for poor Maria" she continued; but your father
takes her ailments to heart, and | cannot always
be refusing him. We great friends, your
father and (; he was very kind 10 me long ago
ten years ago"
A strange stir came into Johns heart. Ali
this while had he been thinking only of himself
All this while. why had he not written to Floral
IL penitential tenderness he took her hand to
his awe and trouble. it remained in his compil,
ant A voice told HIM this was Flora, after all
told him so quietly. yet with thrill of singing.
''And you never marrledf" said he
''No John; l never married" she replied
The hall clock striking two recalled them to
the of time
And now, she said, s'you have been fed and
warmed, and l have heard your story, and now
it's high time TO call your brother.
s9Olo cried John. chOpfalIeD, do you think
that absolutely necessary
II can't keep you here; 1 am stranger" said
She do you want TO run away again!
thought you had enough of that"
He bowed his head under the reproof. She
despised him, he reflected. as he sat once more
alone; monstrous thing for woman 20 despise
a man: and strargest of all, she seemed TO like
him. Would his brother despise him. toos And
would his brother like himi
And presently the brother appeared, under
Flora's escort; and standing afar off beside the
doorway. eyed the hero OF this tale.
so this is youa" he said, at length
YES so Alisk' td ss NETS 0hn' replied the
elder oiG how d laoo og gee replied the
younger.
'.The deuce you had' said Alexander. 'Ah.
you lived in a better worldl There are no pass
keys going now"
well. father was always averse to them"
And the conversation then broke down. and
the brothers looked askance at one another in
silence.
..WeN and what the devil are we to dol" said
Alexander. II suppose if the authorities got
wind of you, you would be taken up2'
1T depends whether they've found the
body not" returned John. And then there
that cabman, to be sure"
ooh, bother the body" said Alexander. ST
mean about the other thing That's serious"
lis that what my father spoke aoous2' asked
john. II don't even know what it is
About your robbing your bank ia Calf ornia,
OF course replied Alexander.
1t was plain, from Floras face, that this was
tho first she had heard of it: it palmer still.
from Johns that he was innocent
..Im he exclaimed. Il rob my banki My
God Flora, this is too much; even you must
allow that"
Meaning you didn't" asked Alexander.
II never robbed soul in .ll my days cried
John; except my father. if you call that rob-
berry: and | brought him back the money in
this room and he wouldn't even take it,"
..Look here, John" said his brother: '.let us
have misunderstanding upon this MacEwen
said to 10 father: he told him bank you had
worked for in San Francisco was wiring over the
habitable globe to have you collared-that it
was supposed you had nailed thousands, and it
was dead certain you had nailed three hundred.
So Mac Even said, aud wish you would be- care
full how you answer. / may tell you also. that
your father paid the three hundred on the sDot"
Three hundredE repeated John. Three
hundred pounds, You mean! That's fifteen
hundred dollars Why, then, it's KirkmanlT he
broke out Thank Heaveni / can explain all
that I gave them to kirknan to pay It for
and letter TO the manager What do they sup
pose l weald steal fifteen hundred dollars fora
I'm rich; struck il rich IN stocks It's the silli-
est stuff | over heard of. All that's needful is to
able to the manager; kirkman has the fifteen
hundIed-fnd Kirkman. He was fellow clerk
of mine and a hard case; but TO do him justice,
/ didn't think be hard as ths?'
And what 90 you say that, Alickr asked
Flora.
81 say the cabegram shall go tonight" cried
Alexander, with energy. Answer prepaid. too.
If this can be cleared away-and upon my word
l do believe it can-we shall be able to hold up
our heads again. Here, John, you stick down
the address of your bank manager. You, Flora,
YOU can pack John into my bed, for which ! have
no further use to-nie ht. As for me, / am off to
the postoffce and thence to the High street about
the body The police ought to know, you see,
and they ought to know through John; and eau
tell them some riemarole about my brother be-
ing q man of highly nervous organization and
the rest of it. And then; I'll tell you what,
John-did you notice the name upon the cabl"
John gave the name of the driver, which, as
have not been able TO commend the vehicle, I
here suppress